Engine mounting and control system



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2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed March 24, 1949 AT1-owns.

June 23, 1953 Filed Maron 24, 1949 a c. KIEKHAEFER ENGINE uoummc Aucom-Roi. s'vs'mu y 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 uvmvron Elmer C. Kzvekhaafer Patented June 23, l. 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Elmer C. Kiekhaefer, Cedarburg, Wis.

Application March 24, 1949, Serial No. 83,250

This invention relates to outboard motors and particularly to the manual control mechanism for outboard motors having a transmission system or other means for controlling the operation of the propeller. 'Y

A principal object of the invention is to improve the control of the propeller and the steering of the motor and boat in a single control member.

A further object of the invention is to prevent the vibration of the motor and gears from reaching the control member connected thereto.-

Another object is to provide a more positive motor control which will respond immediately to the operators control. f f

Another object is to provide for the full directional control of the propeller in a single control handle which will allow the operatorof a boat greater freedom as when approaching a dock.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be more fully set forth in the following description of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 4 is a View similar to Fig. 1 showing the) f control handle in the raised, reverseposition.

The outboard motor shown in the drawings comprises the engine I supported upon the upper end of the hollow cast housing 2,r the underwater gear case 3 secured to the lower end of housing 2 and the propeller 4 mounted on the shaft 5 journally carried by gearcase 3. The clamp bracket 6 by which the motor is removably secured to the transom of a boat, not shown, pivotally supports an intermediate swivel bracket 'I which carries the motor, as will be described, for turning on a vertical axis for purposes of steering.

The transversev pin V8 extending through brackets 6 and I connects the sameand provides for tilting of the motor and bracket 'I relative to bracket 6 and the boat, knot shown. to raise pro-y peller 4 out of `water andA to allowthe lower end' ofthe motor to pass overunderwater obstrucy'l 16 claims'. (01.115418) l crank 24 rearwardly. and g effect the rotativelfenl.gagernent:of gear I 6 and shaft 5., By lifting con# trol arm 2| to "an intermediate 'positionrclutch tions. The 'lower removable pin ,'9 is selectively disposed in a corresponding pair of the series of .holes I 0 Vin bracket E to provide for the usual tilt adjustment of the motor.

The drive shaft II, disposed vertically within the hollow cast housing 2, is connected by means of splineconnection as at I2 to the lower end of engine crankshaft I3 extending downwardly into the upper end of housing2. The lower end* eled gears l5 and I,=Brespectively, are supported by bearings I'I within ygear case 3 and mesh with drive gear- I4 for rotation oppositely of each other. Gears I5 and I6 are disposed on and suppori-,shaft 5f for free rotation with respect thereto and .are adapted to` be rotatively engaged selectively with shaft 5, as will ,be described, to

rrotate the shaft and propeller 4 kin either direction as desired for propulsion of the boat forwardly or in a reverse direction. When both gears I5 and IG rotate freely of shaft 5, propeller 4 is inoperative andthe motor is in neutral, as will also be described.

The splined clutch ,element I8`is carried on shaft 5 for. rotationf therewith and is axially movable thereon anddisposed-between the -positive engagement clutch .faces I9 of gears7|5 and The opposite ends of element' I8 carry clutch faces 20 which are selectively engageable with the respective complementary lface yI 9 ofthe corresponding gear I5 or I6. Al control mechanism is provided by which element I8 is moved on shaft 5 to engage either gear I6 or I1 forrotation offshaft 5 by. engine n I I through drive shaft II in either direction or to dispose element I 8 between gears I5 and I6 with- 22 connecting arm`2I and arm 23 ofthe bell crank 24 pivotally disposed within gear case.3.

` The arm 25 of bell crank 24is bifurcated 'and carries at the ends .thereof the lugs 26 which op positely engageeither side of the annular ring .21 ofelementIS. y

Movement of the forward endof control'arm 2I downwardly lifts rod 22 to move arm`25 of 5 and the propeller `4 are out of driving connection with engine I and in a neutral position. By raising control arm 2I to the uppermost position. as shown in Fig. 4, clutch element I8 is brought into engagement with gear I5 for the opposite rotation of shaft 5 and propeller 4.

The control bracket 28 carried by the swivel support bracket 1 pivotally supports arm 2I, as described above, by means of the transverse pin 29 passing therethrough. Detent means are carried bylbracket 2B comprising the bearing 30 and the spring 3I urging bearing 30 into engagement with any one of three detents 32 in the side of a portion of arm 2I. Each Vbearing 30 'provides releasable means yieldably securing arm 2 I selectively in either of the three control positions above described.

The horizontally disposed circular lplate 33 is rotatably mounted on the vertical sleeve '34 carried by swivel bracket 1. Plate 33 supports bracket 28 Vto provide .for 'rotational movement of arm 2l to the right or left ofthe operator in a horizontal plane `so that arm V2l v:may also be utilized, as will be described, lto serve as a tiller. i

Drive shaft housing 2 is provided with upper and4 lower spaced forwardly projecting bosses 35 and36 formed integrally therewith by which the housing is mounted for steering on the respective upper 'and lower 'ends of sleeve 34. The rubber bushings 31 interposed between sleeve 34 and the housing are provided within each boss 35 and r36 for their resiliency and to absorb the vibration of engine I which would other- 'wise be transmitted through brackets 6 'and 'I 'to the boat. not shown.

'Plate 33 is -cut away as at-38 and carries the depending ears V39 on either side-of housing 2 adjacent the spring seats 40 formed within the opposite sides of the housing. VVThe springs 4I are disposed between corresponding ears 39 and 'seats `40. 'I'he springs connect arm 2I and the Vmotorwhile preventing shocks and-vibration of the motorgrrom passing to plate 33 and serve toe'ect turnlng'of the 'motor on sleeve `34 upon rotation ofrplate 33 onsleeve 34by movement -of tiller'control armfZI Vtothe right or left.

The rubber cushions 42 and 43 'are carried by 'swivel bracket V1 in frictional engagement with the'upper and lower faces of plate 33 to "yielda-bly secure plate 33 and control bracket `28fin a given position as when the operators grasp of tiller vcontrol arm 2I is temporarily released. I

The upperv cushions 42'are carried by the free jend of the resilient arm or plate 44 which latter is secured at its opposite end to swivel bracket 1. The adjustment screw45 carried by bracket 1 through the resilient lleaf spring 46 which bears upon arm "44 adjustably de'flects the free end of arm or plate 44 carrying cushions 42. By' turning screw 4'5 theupper cushions 42'may rbe variably urged downwardly toward cushions 43. Plate 33 is disposed'between icushions 42 and r43 "so that the variable pressure applied to the upper cushions 42, as described, provides for the desiredI adjustment ofthe frictional engagement Aof Vthe cushions with plate 33. Cushions 42 and 43, and plate 33 provide friction means yieldably securing control bracket 28 and 'control arm 2I against pivotal movement on "sleeve 34 and through springs 4I serves to 'se- "curefthe vmotor in 'the selected position for steering I 'The bore 41 within 'theii'orward'wall'of housing 2 and gear case 3 registers with the lower end of sleeve 34 and extends downwardly in alignment therewith to communicate with the interior of gear case 3. Control rod 22 is disposed within bore 41 to connect tiller control arm 2I and crank 24, as previously described.

In the operation of the motor the torque vibration of engine I causes a vibration of the motor on a vertical axis ,which is close to or coincident with the axis of sleeve 34 on which the motor is mounted for steering. Rod 22 extends axially through sleeve 34 and substantially along the axis of vibration so that the vibration referred to cannot be transmitted to tillerY control arm 2I in any position of the -motor in steering or of the gear mechanism. -The rubber-cushion element 48 interposed between tiller control arm 2I and rod 22 flexibly connects the same and serves to prevent vibrations of gears I4, I5 and I6 from being transmitted through crank 24 and rod 22 to arm 2I.

In the operation of Vthe motor in reverse the thrust of propeller 4 is directed forwardly tending to tilt the .motor von pin 8 and allowing the propeller to lift itself to the surface of the water. Thedatch `49 is pivotally carried by swivel bracket" 1 to engage selectively adjustment `pin '9 carried by clamp bracket 6 securing the motor thereto. One end of latch 49 is ,disposed within sleeve 34 intermediate its ends, The upper and lower abutment collars 56 and 5I vare ldisposed on rod V22 to engage latch 49 -so that in the reverse" position of tiller control arm ZI the upper collar 50 causes latch 49 to engage pin 9 and lock and the motor to prevent tilting and moving control arm 2| to the forward position raises collar `5I to effect disengagement of latch 49 and pin 9.

The invention provides for full control of the steering of the motor and gear shift mechanism in a single control arm which is mounted on and carriedfby the'boat independently of the motor. Theconnecting elements between the motor and control arm which respond to movement of the latter in different directions provide positive, direct actuation of the motor while at the same time any vibrational movement of the motor is prevented from-reaching the control arm in the hands of the operator.

Various embodiments "of the invention may be employed within the scope of the accompanying claims.

VI claim: Y

l. In an outboard. motor, a dirigiblemotor unit including an 'engine Aand anunrlerwater propeller and reversing mechanism, a stationary bracket having an open sleevepivotally supporting said motor un-it for relative movement on a vertical steering-axis, said-motor unit being subject to torque vibration on said steering axis. a control arm including a control bracket pivotallycarried by said sleeve independentlyr of seid motor unit, said control arm-beingadapted t0 pivotallymove said control bracket therewith on said sleeve and being movable with respect to said controlY bracket in another direction, friction means yieldably securing andA normally resisting pivotal movement of said control bracket on said sleeveand with respect to sa-id stationary bracket, resilient-means connecting said control bracket andsaid motor unit for steering by movement of said. control arm and,`4 control bracket in the direction overco'mingsaid yieldable friction rneans,V andimeanspassis .through said sleeve connecting Vsaid arm and the reversing mechanism of said motor unit for control lof the latter' by movement of said arm in said another direction independently cf the steering movement effected through said control bracket and unaiiected by the vibration of the motor unit on itsL Steering axis.

2. In'an outboard motor, a dirigible motor unit*v including an engine, an underwater propeller and a propeller reversing mechanism, a stationary bracket pivotally supporting said motor unit for relative movement on a vertical steering axis, said motor unit being subject to torque vibration on said steering axis, a control bracket carried by said stationary bracket for pivotal control movement independently of said motor unit on said axis, a control arm Vcarried by and adapted to pivotally move said control bracket therewith on said vertical axis and being movable with respect to said control bracket in a direction other than that of said pivotal movement, friction means yielda-bly securing and normally resisting pivotal movement of said control bracket with respect to said stationary bracket, resilient means connecting said controlbracket and said motor unit for steering the latter by said pivotal movement of said control arm and control bracket together in a direction overcoming said yielolablefriction means, and a control rod extending through said stationary bracket and connecting said arm and the reversing mechanism or said motor unit for control lof the latter by movement of said arm in said other direction independently of the steering movement eiected through said control bracket Iand substantially free ci the torque vibration of th-e motor unit on its steering axis.

3, ln an outboard motor, the combination of' a steerable motor unit including an engine and an underwater propeller and reversing gear unit, a drive shaft housing supporting said engine at its upper end and carrying said gear unit at the lower end thereof, a swivel bracket having an open sleeve pivotally supporting said motor unit, a clamp bracket pivotally carrying said swivel bracket with said sleeve normally disposed vertically for steering of said unit thereon and for tilting said unit and swivel bracket on a transverse axis forwardly of the motor unit whereby said propeller and gear unit may be removed cut of water, a manual actuating arm for said gear unit disposed forwardlyof the motor unit and adjacent the upper open end oi' said sleeve, a crank lever disposed beneath the lower end of said sleeve to actuate rsaid reverse gear unit, locking means carried by said swivel bracket adjacent the lower end of said sleeve and selectively engageable with means on said clamp bracket to prevent relative movement of vsaid brackets, a control rod connecting said actuating arm and crank lever axially through said sleeve, and means on said control rod to actuate said locking means carried by said swivel bracket whereby tilting of the motor is prevented when said actuating arm and crank lever are moved to a reverse gear position.

e. In an outboard motor of the class described, a steerable motor unit including 'an engine, an underwater propeller and kreversing gear unit having a clutch actuating crank, a drive shaft housing supporting said engine at the upper end and carrying said underwater gear unit at the swivel bracket having an open sleeve d-isposed between and in alignment with said bearings to support said motor unit onvsaid bearings, a clamp bracket carrying said swivel bracket for tilting said underwater unit may be raised,r a manual lower end and having vertically spaced andr aligned support bearings forwardly thereof, said motor unit being subject to torque vibration on the vertical axis of said support bearings, al`

' trol of Asaid geark unit by movement of said leverk control arm including a control bracket carried independentlyyof said motor unit on said sleever near the upper-end thereof and for pivotal movement thereon, said control arm being carried by and adapted to pivotally move said controlE bracket therewith on said sleeve and being mov-- able with respect to said control bracket in a. direction other than that of said pivotal movement, friction meansA yieldably securing and normally resisting pivotal movement of said control bracket with respect to said swivel bracket, tilt locking meanscarried by said clamp bracket and said swivel bracket adjacent the lower endy of said sleeve and selectively engageable to limit and prevent relative movement o-f the motor unit and swivel bracket with respect to th-e clampA bracket on said transverse axis from a selected position disposing said sleeve vertically for normal operation and steering by movement of the motor unit on the vertical axis of said sleeve, resilient connecting means between said control bracket and the motor unit for steering the latter by pivotal movement of said control arm includ` ing said control bracket together on'said sleeve' in a direction overcoming said yieldable friction means, and a control rod extending axially through said sleeve and operatively connecting said control arm and crank for control of said gear unit by movement of said arm in another direction independently of any steering movement on said sleeve effected through said control bracket and engageable with said locking means carried by said swivel bracket whereby tilting of the motor unit is prevented when said control lever is moved in said another direction to a rey verse drive position. i

5. In an outboard motor of the class described, a steerable motor unit including an engine, an underwater propeller' and reversing gear unit having a clutch controlcrank, a drive shaft housing supporting said engine at the upper end and a transverse axis forwardly of the motor unit whereby said underwater unit may be raised, a f

manual control arm carried independently of said motor unit on said swivel bracket, tilt locking meanscarried by said clamp bracket and said swivel bracket adjacentl the lower end of said sleeve and selectively 'engageable to limit andY prevent relative movement of the motor f unit and swivel bracket with respect to the clampv bracket on said transverse axis from a selected position disposing said sleeve-vertically for normal operation and steering by movement of the motor unit on the vertical axis of said sleeve, and a control rod connecting said control arm and crank axially through said sleevefor conindependently of kany steering movement of the motor unit on's'aid sleeve' 4and engageable witbl' said locking meanscarried by'said swivel bracket. whereby tilting of the motor unit isprevented when said control arm is moved,Y to areverse drive position.

6. In an outboard motor of the class described; a steerable motorunit including, an engine, an

underwater propeller and reversinggear unitv having aclutchcontrol crank, adrive shaft housingY supporting said-engine at theupper end and carrying said underwater gear unit at the lower end, and having vertically spaced and aligned support bearings forwardly-thereof, said motor unit being subjectV to torque vibration on the vertical axis of said support bearings; a swivel bracket having an open sleevev supporting said motor. unit on saidV bearings at opposite ends of the sleeve for steeringmovement, a hollow pivot pin passing through said sleeve and said bearings, a clamp bracket carrying saidrswivel,

bracket for tilting of said motor unit and-swivel bracket on a transverse axisy forwardly of the motor unit whereby said-underwater unit may be raised, a manual control arm including a control bracket carried. independently of said motor unit on said pin near the upper end thereof and for pivotal movement thereon, said control arm being carriedby and adapted to pivotally move said control bracket-therewith on-said pin and being movable with respect toV said control bracket in a direction other than that of said pivotal movement, manually releavsable means normally securing said control arm and said control bracket against relative movement in said otherdirection, friction means yieldably securing` and normally-resisting pivotal movement of saidcontrol bracketwith respect to said swivel bracket,-tilt-lockirig means carried by said clamp bracket and said.- swivel bracket adjacent thelowerend of said-sleeve and selectively engage-- able to limit and-prevent relative movement of the motor unit and( swivel -bracket'with respect totheclamp bracket on said transverse axis from a selected position disposing-said sleeve verticallyfor-normal operation and steering by movementof-the motor unit on the-vertical axis of said sleeve, resilient connecting means between said control bracket and the motor unit for steering the latter byv pivotal movement of said controlarmincluding said control bracket together on said pin in a direction overcoming said yieldable frictionA means, a control Arod connecting said control arm and crank axiallyA through said pin for-control of said gear unitby movement of said arm in said other direction against said releasable means and independentlyof any steeringf movement on said sleeve effected through said control bracket, and means on said control rod engageable with said lockingmeans carried by said swivel bracket whereby said motor unit is locked against tilting when said control arm is moved in said other direction to areverse drive position.

7. An outboard motor, comprising a steerablemotor unit including an engine and an under-A water propeller and reversing gear unit, a drive shaft housing supporting said engine at its upper end and carrying said gear unit at the lower'end thereof, a bracket-having an open sleeve pivotally supporting said motor unit, va manual actuating arm for said gear unit disposed forwardly of the motor unit and adjacent the` upper open end of said sleeve, a crankrlever disposed beneath the lower end of said sleeve to actuate said reverse sewilii.. ,and a Ganr01-roslconnectinsSaid. ac,.-

8. tuating arm'and crank lever axially through said sleeve.

8. An outboard motor, comprising-a steerable motor unit having an engine, a forward and reverse gear transmission and an underwater propeller with a housing extending downwardly from the engine to carry the propeller, a swivel bracket having an open sleeve normally disposed vertically for pivotally supporting said motor unit upon a substantially vertical steering axis, a clamp bracket adapted to be removably clamped to the transom of a boat and pivotally carrying said-swivel bracket upon a horizontal transverse axis forwardly of the motor unit for tilting of the latter to raise the propeller from the water and to accommodate boat transoms of different angular position, means to secure said brackets in adjusted angular position for forward drive of said propeller while providing for tilting of ther motor unit in a direction moving the propeller rearwardly lrelative to the engine to pass underwater obstructions, means engageable with said securing means and disposed adjacent the lower end of said sleeve to lock said swivel bracket from tilting the motor unit relative to the adjusted position thereof with respect to said clamp bracket, a manual lever disposed above said sleeve and forwardly of the motor unit, and means connected to and operated by said lever to actuate said transmission to reverse the propeller and said tilt lock simultaneously in correlation including a rod extending axially through said sleeve and connecting said lever to said tilt lock, whereby said swivel bracket and motor are locked against tilting away from any adjusted normal vertical position only when said transmission reverses said propeller.

9. In an outboard motor supported at its upper end for pivotal movement on a hollow vertical pin and having a shift mechanism at its lowerend including an axially horizontally movable control member and a movable actuator, a vertical-control shaft extending through said pivot pin and having a lower end adjacent to and engageable with one end of said actuator, and a manual control arm secured to the upper end of said control shaft above said pin for effecting movement of said control shaft and movement of the lower end thereof and of said actuator and `said control .member in at least one direction.

10. In an outboard motor including a hollow vertical pin supporting the motor for steering movement and having, a shift mechanism at its lower endincluding an axially horizontally movablecontrolsnember and a movable actuator having offset surfaces adjacent to and engageable with said control member, a control rod ex tendingY through said pivot pin and engageable with the forward end of said actuator, and a manual arm secured to the upper end vof said -control rod above said pin for effecting movement of said rod and movement of said actuator and control member in at least one direction.

ll. An outboard motor structure having in combination, a bracket adapted to be attached to a boat, a casing Carrying the power head and driving shaft ofY said motor, a pivot connectingr said bracket and casing about the axis of which said casing is swingable, a propeller shaft, a propeller carried by said shaft, a reversing mechanism between said driving shaft and propeller shaft, and means for operating said reversing mechanism including a'member coaxial with said pivo 12. An outboard motor structure having in combination, a bracket adapted to be attached to a boat, a casing, a pivot extending substantially vertically connecting said bracket and casing, a driving shaft journaled in said casing, a propeller shaft, a reversing mechanism between said driving shaft and propeller shaft, said driving shaft being laterally spaced from said pivot, and means for operating said reversing mechanism including a member coaxial with and movable relatively to said pivot.

13. In an outboard motor comprising a steering motor unit including an engine and a underwater propeller and reversing gear unit and a drive shaft housing supporting said engine at its upper end and carrying said gear unit at the lower end thereof; a bracket having an open sleeve pivotally supporting said motor unit for steering movement on a vertical axis, a manual actuating arm for said gear unit disposed adjacent to the upper open end of said sleeve, and a control rod connecting said actuating arm and reversing gear unit movable relative to and extending coaxially with said vertical steering axis through said sleeve.

14. An outboard motor structure having in combination, a bracket adapted to be attached to a boat, a member pivoted to said bracket about a substantially horizontal axis,` a casing carrying the power head and driving shaft of said motor, a pivot carried in said member having its axi-s substantially at right angles to said axis for connecting said casing and member so that said casing is swingable about the axis of said pivot, a propeller shaft, a propeller secured to said shaft, a reversing mechanism for said4 propeller shaft, means for operating said rever-sing mechanism inclding a member coaxial -with said pivot and longitudinally movable relatively thereto, a latch pivotally mounted on said rst mentioned member, said bracket having means engageable by said latch to prevent swinging movement of said casing away from said bracket, said latch being operated by movement of said last mentioned member.

15. An outboard motor structure having in combination, a bracket adapted to be attac-hed to a boat, a member pivoted to said bracket about a substantially horizontal axis, a casing carrying the power head and driving shaft of said motor, a pivot carried in said member having its axis substantially at right angles to said axis for member, said bracket including a stop member movable to different positions and adapted to be 'engaged by said casing for holding the latter in different positions, said bracket also beingr engageable by said latch corresponding respectively to the different positions of said stop member.

16. .In an outboard motor, a dirigible motor unit including an engine, an underwater propeller and a propeller reversing mechanism, a stationary bracket having vertically spaced resilient annular bearing means pivotally supporting saidmotor unit for relative movement on a vertical steering axis, said resilient bearing rmeans being adapted to absorb the vibration of the motor unit, a control bracket carried by said stationary bracket independently of said motor unit, a control arm carried by said control bracket, and a control rod connecting said control arm and the reversing mechanism and extending coaxially through said annular resilient bearing means whereby said control arm is relatively unaffected by the vibration of the motor unit on its steering axis.

ELMER C KIEKHAEFER.

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